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The Cotswold Way walk is the best way to see what the Cotswolds has to offer and enjoy the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as it was meant to be enjoyed.
Whether you want to walk circular sections of the Cotswold Way, explore different parts of the Cotswolds with a linear walk, or you’re keen to get in the Cotswold Way Hall of Fame, we have everything you need to know about the Cotswold Way.
After your day out in the Cotswolds, pay a visit to The Broad Street Townhouse where you rest and relax in one of our boutique bedrooms. Alternatively, you could pop next door to the Pig & Fiddle to see what Butcombe beer they have on tap or what delicious meals they have on the menu.
If you want to tackle the entire 102-mile trail, it can take between 7-10 days, although if you’d prefer to visit a few sites, villages, or towns along the way, it could take longer.
However, if you’d rather walk part of the Cotswold Way, there are a range of circular walks for you to explore.
The Cotswold Way is a 100+ mile route through the Cotswolds. The most northern part of the walk is in the market town of Chipping Campden, while the most southern part is in the beautiful city of Bath. The general consensus is to start in the north and venture south, though many walkers believe that the scenery becomes more breathtaking the further north you go, so choose the south as their starting point.
Many of the Cotswold Way walks are within close proximity to the centre of Bath, making the Broad Street Townhouse and the Pig & Fiddle the perfect places to eat, drink and rest.
Old Sodbury is situated on the western edge of the Cotswolds, approximately 14 miles north of Bath. This circular walk is less than 3 miles long and should take most walkers less than 3 hours to complete.
Starting in Old Sodbury, you will take in the views of beautiful farmland as you climb up towards St John’s church. As you continue through the countryside enjoying the far-reaching views, you will come to an iron-age hillfort, which is known locally as Sodbury Camp.
For walkers following the Cotswold Way from north to south, you can continue from here towards the final leg of the Cotswold Way.
The final section of the Cotswold Way (when heading from north to south) begins in Lansdown, near to the Park & Ride.
This is a linear walk with a total distance of around 6 miles, of which the majority is downhill, so shouldn’t take much longer than 4 hours to complete.
You will take in the wonderful views from Kelston Round Hill as you descend into the city, where you will then start to see the beautiful Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent and The Circus.
Once you have reached the end of the trail at Bath Abbey, you are within 5 minutes walk of a refreshing drink or well-earned meal at the Pig & Fiddle, or your comfortable room at the Broad Street Townhouse.
If you’re planning to walk the entirety of the Cotswold Way, it’s best to bring a backpack with:
If you are travelling the Cotswold Way from north to south, approaching Bath means that your journey is coming to and end.
That doesn’t mean that the wonderful views and scenery is over though, as there is still plenty of beautiful countryside to take in as you pass the church and hillfort in Old Sodbury, or the stunning panoramic views over Bath and beyond from Kelston Round Hill.
As you reach the end of the Cotswold Way, you will be on the doorstep of Bath Abbey. You will be able to see the world-famous Roman Baths, the beautiful Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent and the wonderful design of Pulteney Bridge.
The Broad Street Townhouse is an award-winning Grade-II listed boutique hotel, situated in the heart of historic Bath.
Rest easy in one of our 11 boutique bedrooms after you have trekked the Cotswold Way, or pop next door to the Pig & Fiddle for some delicious seasonal pub food and a pint of award-winning Butcombe beer.
